Sideline

3.8 (64)
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Overall rating

3.8 /5
(64)
Value for Money
3.7/5
Features
3.8/5
Ease of Use
3.8/5
Customer Support
3.4/5

67%
recommended this app
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64 Reviews

Pamela
Pamela
Overall rating
  • Industry: Outsourcing/Offshoring
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 7.0 /10

Convenient

Reviewed on 2018/03/29

Pros

Sideline works as a separate line on my phone. I use it as my business mobile number.

Cons

The name doesn't appear 99% of the time (only the number), even though the caller is listed in my contacts. Calls are not always clear. Doesn't have as many features as other competitors and less than TextFree, the free service offered through Pinger (Sideline's parent company). I have always paid for the service. Customer service is not the greatest.

Ross
Overall rating
  • Industry: Health, Wellness & Fitness
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Great service to ditch the landline

Reviewed on 2021/08/09

Great product that does exactly what it says it will.
I also love the voice to text options, the...

Great product that does exactly what it says it will.
I also love the voice to text options, the ability to text from it.
The ability to set multiple away messages and switch them easily is also quite useful.

Pros

I was able to stop using a landline and add it to my cell phone. I have my office phone with me at all times now and can manage when it is answered and set to away etc. Along with being 1/8th the price of the landline I can also text directly with people instead of using my personal number or a service.

Cons

There really haven't been any con's to the software. I think I have had a total of 3 calls that were of unacceptable quality in more than 3 years of use, and I cannot even guarantee that the poor quality of the call was because of sideline.

Alternatives Considered

Grasshopper

Reasons for Choosing Sideline

I was able to save quite a bit and gain a ton of features by switching to the mobile option versus landline.

Reasons for Switching to Sideline

Sideline just seemed like a better deal for my particular needs.

Response from Pinger

Hey Ross,

Thank you for leaving such a detailed recounting of your experience using Sidelinewe truly appreciate the feedback and are very happy to hear how well everything has worked for you!

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Insurance
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

worst business practices

Reviewed on 2024/01/24

Pros

nothing they had no right to block my number because I made too many business calls

Cons

If you want to have every business contact you ever had if using side line for business blocked by sideline without telling you then use this company. You cant reach a person only emails and they repeat the same thing over and over they offer NOhelp

Angela
Overall rating
  • Industry: Financial Services
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

Great tool for collectors

Reviewed on 2020/04/09

It provides another option to reach those customers that already have your phone number blocked....

It provides another option to reach those customers that already have your phone number blocked. Get more ways of communicating with difficult customers. Less expensive than a regular cellphone line.

Pros

It gives you the ability to have an extra phone number to use while collections. It has all the capabilities as any other phone number, text mssgs, voice mssgs.

Cons

The increased the cost of the subscription. Other than that the product is great and offers great features for the price.

Response from Pinger

Thanks for sharing your feedback, Angela. We appreciate your honest review. Feel free to reach out if you ever need help with the app!

Michael
Overall rating
  • Industry: Business Supplies & Equipment
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 1.0 /10

Sideline Review

Reviewed on 2023/11/12

If the issues are resolved. It will be an excellent product.

If the issues are resolved. It will be an excellent product.

Pros

This product is cost effective. I would recommend it based on price only at this time.

Cons

I have been a loyal customer of Sideline since its inception, embracing the transition to a paid service with the understanding that existing customers would be Grandfathered at a rate of $69.99 per year. Unfortunately, this commitment has been breached, as evidenced by my recent charge of $129.99 plus tax on November 8, 2023. This review aims to address the significance of honoring agreements with customers and delve into the technical issues I have encountered since 2017, including problems with caller ID and the AI's functionality.

Sideline's failure to uphold the agreement to charge existing customers $69.99 annually is a breach of trust. The discrepancy between the promised Grandfathered rate and the actual charge of $129.99 plus tax erodes the foundation of customer satisfaction and trust. This not only reflects poorly on Sideline's commitment to its customers but also raises concerns about the transparency and integrity of its business practices.

The importance of honoring agreements cannot be overstated in a competitive market. Customers choose a service based on trust and reliability, and a breach of such agreements undermines these fundamental elements. This not only leaves existing customers disillusioned but also dissuades potential customers from trusting Sideline's commitment to fair and transparent dealings.

Since 2017, my experience with Sideline has been marred by persistent technical problems, significantly impacting the overall utility of the service. The caller ID function consistently fails to display the correct name or number, leading to confusion and potentially missed communications. Furthermore, calls often display incorrect phone numbers, further exacerbating the issue.

The AI feature, designed to enhance user experience, has proven ineffective. It fails to address queries accurately, often requiring multiple attempts to obtain a satisfactory response. This not only diminishes the efficiency of the service but also hampers the user's ability to rely on Sideline for effective communication.

These technical shortcomings have significantly diminished my overall perception of Sideline services. The breach of the agreement, coupled with persistent technical issues, raises concerns about the company's commitment to providing a reliable and customer-centric service. Such problems may not only tarnish existing customer relationships but also deter potential customers from choosing Sideline over competitors.

Sideline must prioritize resolving these issues promptly to salvage its reputation and maintain customer satisfaction. Addressing these technical drawbacks would not only enhance the user experience but also contribute to the overall improvement of the product. This, in turn, could lead to increased customer loyalty, positive reviews, and a more competitive position in the market.

MuMu
MuMu
Overall rating
  • Industry: Consumer Electronics
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

No Support

Reviewed on 2023/08/08

waste of money

waste of money

Pros

It was ok when it was working initially. nothing much positive about sideline especially if it is not working

Cons

Suddenly stops working and no support to fix it. Most of the time Dumb robot answers your questions which does't make any sense. frustrating

W. Shawn
W. Shawn
Overall rating
  • Used Daily for 1-5 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

Not close to even being "professional" grade

Reviewed on 2016/07/05

I am currently involved in several different businesses and need separate phone lines for each in...

I am currently involved in several different businesses and need separate phone lines for each in order to text or call clients. However, I do not want to have separate phones. Sideline does not allow for the use of a fully individuated phone number (e.g., calling out from the same number as calling in), especially when a competitor app is installed. If you are looking for communication and confidence in the use of an app that allows you to separate personal from professional securely, and thus allow clients not to access your private information, this may not be the app for you. Instead, you may have to use Caller ID block in order to "rectify this scenario" which opens a whole host of other communication issues with clients (some don't answer blocked calls, some automatically reject blocked calls, etc.)

Customer service appears to take a lackadaisical approach, stating they know this is a known issue, and it is "common", but is not aware of plans to fix the common, known issue. I have used customer service on two different occasions and been informed on both occasions by separate customer service representatives that the system had a glitch that did not allow them to see my trouble ticket. When I was not a customer, I had inquired about the actual service through the same ticket system and been in contact with yet another representative multiple times within a 24 hour period.

Pros

The app is a free app with the potential to be really good if programmed correctly.

Cons

Customer service doesn't appear to respond in a timely fashion. Also, having a ticket management system that closes out a ticket after 3 days of inactivity without responding in said time is counterintuitive and frustrating to the user.

The app does not use a distinct dialer like Line2 or even Google Voice.

The app does not allow for the use of multiple lines coming in (even in the paid version). I am assuming this is for security purposes, but in some cases multiple lines are necessary.

Jeff
Jeff
Overall rating
  • Industry: Real Estate
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 5.0 /10

Sideline

Reviewed on 2020/02/05

I am very disappointed with Sideline. I am in the process of phasing out the number, but I still...

I am very disappointed with Sideline. I am in the process of phasing out the number, but I still have marketing material out with the Sideline phone number.

Pros

I was willing to try this application because of the low cost and decent number of features. I like that I can have a separate number for business calls only.

Cons

Just about everything! The telemarketing calls that a business owner gets on a daily basis are insane. When using Sideline, as far as I've been able to tell, there is no way to block aggravating numbers. All calls made to your number are directed to a single phone number which makes it impossible to block unless you want to block your customer calls as well.

Response from Pinger

Hey Jeff,

I'm so sorry to hear about the negative experience you had while using Sideline. Unfortunately, robocalls are an industry-wide problem that Sideline's Spam prevention actively works to block. If you're interested in speaking with our Support department at [email protected], they should be able to work with you to find a solution while you wait for your marketing campaigns to complete.

We appreciate your honest feedback!

Scott
Scott
Overall rating
  • Industry: Public Relations & Communications
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Second number heaven

Reviewed on 2019/12/23

Overall, it is a reliable way to add a second line to your cell phone that you can easily use for...

Overall, it is a reliable way to add a second line to your cell phone that you can easily use for business purposes. This is especially true if you only need one.

Pros

I like Sideline because it was easy to set up. Most importantly, I don't miss calls that come inbound and it has good texting features. Also they just added a new feature that allows users to send and receive texts from their desktop/laptop. A nice time saver for longer messages.

Cons

Wish the price was a little bit cheaper per month, maybe by like $3-5.

Response from Pinger

Thank you so much for sharing!

Angelina
Angelina
Overall rating
  • Used Daily for 6-12 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support

A needed service but room for improved features

Reviewed on 2018/02/27

Pros

Sideline allows me to separate business from personal calls. I can have automatic out of office and other messages sent when clients call or text. I do not have to increase my phone data package to utilize the app but do need to be within wifi or data to accept and send calls or text.

Cons

The app does not always keep contacts saved names. So I will receive phone calls from regular clients but all I see is their number which I do not memorize. This is a glitch that does get annoying. Luckily, all contact info is stored on my phone directory. Sometimes, texts messages do not go through but I do not receive an error message.

Joel
Overall rating
  • Industry: Nonprofit Organization Management
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Weekly for 6-12 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

50% price increase overnight

Reviewed on 2023/07/18

Their “Help” window responds with answers to questions you didn’t ask. No matter how you word the...

Their “Help” window responds with answers to questions you didn’t ask. No matter how you word the question the response is still the wrong and unrelated response. Customer service apologized for the rate increase. It’s not the increase, it’s the fact that Sideline raised the rate 50% at one time. WOW. Not a user friendly approach to customers.

Pros

Availability of a second phone line was needed so we began looking for a solution to a problem.

Cons

Sideline raised their monthly rate 50% overnight. No gradual increase, one swoop. Don’t we all wish we could raise our prices by 50% at one time? As a non-profit we work in a tight budget. Sadly, we’ll begin looking for an alternative service.

Jen
Overall rating
  • Industry: Cosmetics
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 6-12 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 4.0 /10

Better stuff out there

Reviewed on 2023/03/31

Pros

Price and phone call quality higher than Google Voice

Cons

Connectivity with contacts, glitches in system.

Arin
Arin
Overall rating
  • Industry: Mental Health Care
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

If things go wrong, they go very wrong

Reviewed on 2022/02/09

My business number is with sideline so we need to stay, but the issues with the app and customer...

My business number is with sideline so we need to stay, but the issues with the app and customer service make it an awful experience

Pros

Once you have everything set up, the app pilots itself. It's pretty easy to use

Cons

Customer service is awful. There is no one to talk to personally, ever. If something goes wrong, it will stay wrong, for hours or days while they take their time to respond to your email for help. If you need to make a change in the app, it will not auto install. You will have to delete the app and log back in. No, I'm not joking. For every change. It's literally archaic. Good luck.

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Health, Wellness & Fitness
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 2.0 /10

Problems with usage and cancelling subscription

Reviewed on 2019/02/05

It seemed to work well at the beginning and was good for the price, but things deteriorated over...

It seemed to work well at the beginning and was good for the price, but things deteriorated over time, causing a lot of problems with my not getting back to customers whose messages got lost in Sideline cyberspace

Pros

It appeared to be a good solution for my small business

Cons

On more than one occasion, people left messages, I saw the call listed, but there was no voicemail there. The developer had no explanation for the problem and could not fix it. I went back and forth many times with customer service. They were responsive but the problem was never fixed. In addition, when I tried to cancel my subscription, Google could not find the subscription agreement I purchased through Google Play, and I spent hours on the phone trying to stop the monthly charges. Sideline support referred me to Google, and Google referred me to Paypal. It was a ridiculous set of events not worthy of anyone's l-o-n-g amount of time spent.

Response from Pinger

I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you've been experiencing. It sounds like you're already working with our support team, but please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help in the meantime.

Andrew
Andrew
Overall rating
  • Industry: Outsourcing/Offshoring
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 1.0 /10

Loss of Service unresolvef

Reviewed on 2022/07/06

Pros

When it works it's ok. But there are ongoing glitches about every 6 months. See below!

Cons

I have had sideline for 3 to 4 years. In the past there were some minor glitches but they were fixed pretty quick.. But right now, there is a major problem - Sideline signed me out of my app. I didn't know it, I received no notice of it. I've now missed 7 business phone calls over the past 5 days. I've also worked with Sideline for 5 days to try to resolve this issue. They seem unable to find a way for me to log in to my account. They keep telling me it's resolved&to dign in. But on my phone it is not resolved . It is a friggin mess right now and I am getting more upset by the day. If Sideline can't fix a Sideline issue than what good are they

Nick
Overall rating
  • Industry: Marketing & Advertising
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Works Perfectly - Increased Our Business By 60%

Reviewed on 2018/10/05

Best addition to our client/customer communications for 9 buck a month we ever made.

Best addition to our client/customer communications for 9 buck a month we ever made.

Pros

We use Sideline to make sure EVERY incoming call receive an "Immediate Text Message Response". Sideline knows if it was a mobile phone calling in. This is so important in the "Service Industry". People call our main Ooma VOIP online posted tele numbers (we have eight)... the Ooma numbers forward to our head technician.... If the head technician cannot take the call, or is on another line, then the incoming caller receives an AUTO TEXT MESSAGE the minute they hand up. Very Very Cool. The text message has a tele-phone number fo an Alternate Tech, a link to our web site, and a message thanking them for calling.

Cons

NONE !!! NONE WHAT-SO-EVER
The people leaving negative reviews are (in our opinion) not very bright. The Last thing you want some inquiry calling you to do Is: "Google" something they are looking for (find you), make the call and then not get you for whatever reason. Why not put a friggin' text message (with alternate tapeable tel number), a message with links, and image in their face the minute they hang up. Way better than losing the customer to another Google search. Think Different ! We don't lose customers anymore. YEA Sideline.

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Insurance
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

ADS

Reviewed on 2019/09/06

the messages that get from SIDELINE are confusing me with perceived missed calls and or messages...

the messages that get from SIDELINE are confusing me with perceived missed calls and or messages from prospective clients. I would like an option to be able to receive communication in another format, perhaps email or op out.

I will be searching for an alternative if this issue cannot or will not be addressed or resolved. Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Pros

It's an alternative to having a second cell phone.
Customers recognize the area code as somewhat local.

Cons

ADS in the form of a message, on my alerts it shows as if I missed a call or have a text message from prospective client. I understand that Sideline is constantly working for us users to find better ways to use the app, but I rather receive these BETA request and news and information in the form of a email.

Response from Pinger

Thank you so much for providing this feedback!

If you're interested in hiding all promotional materials in the future, simply go to Settings>Content Preferences>Content Notifications and click the button so that it is no longer green. This will hide all future product tips, updates, promotions, etc.

I'm sorry for the confusion! Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you need any additional help.

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Real Estate
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Excellent Business Number

Reviewed on 2020/02/12

I really like this platform and it allows me to know when a business call is coming in so that I...

I really like this platform and it allows me to know when a business call is coming in so that I can make an effort to answer every call. No more guessing whether it's work-related or not.

Pros

This software works so well no one knows I use it as a second number. I love the way you can use the settings to add a picture in conjunction with an automated reply when you can't answer the phone.

Cons

It's a dummy number and there are other platforms that can't use the number to send bulk texts, etc.

Response from Pinger

Thank you so much for sharing how you use Sideline to differentiate between work and personal calls. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need help using the app!

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Consumer Services
  • Company size: 51–200 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Excellent Option for Freelancers

Reviewed on 2018/10/16

Sideline lets me have a work phone and a personal phone without actually needing to have two...

Sideline lets me have a work phone and a personal phone without actually needing to have two phones. Great service.

Pros

Sideline make it very easy for me to neatly divide my work calls and texts from my friends. I work as a freelancer so it's super nice to know when an editor might be calling vs a friend. Being able to text from my second number is great as well.

I'm told you are also able to bring your number with you if you ever grow your business to the point of wanting a standard desk phone, which is a great feature, but I've not done it.

Cons

Very little. Works great and I have no complaints.

Brad
Overall rating
  • Industry: Sports
  • Company size: 201–500 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Coaching Staff Support

Reviewed on 2021/07/17

Pros

It allows our coaching staff to have a single contact # that they can call or more importantly text. This will reach our entire department at once and we are able to support

Cons

None for our needs. We may have a simple use of the product but it works exactly to what we need

Alternatives Considered

Google Voice

Response from Pinger

Thanks for taking the time to share how you and your team use Sideline, Brad! We're so happy to hear it's working exactly the way you need it.

Nikolay
Nikolay
Overall rating
  • Industry: Consumer Services
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

Great product

Reviewed on 2019/08/12

Pros

Very easy to set up and use. Serves perfectly for my needs.

Cons

Not sure about the cons. It's only hard to manage its payments through the iTunes on iPhone.

Response from Pinger

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Nikolay!

Sandra
Overall rating
  • Used Daily for 6-12 months
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

Started using this when it was free and for free it was great. They switched to paid in...

Reviewed on 2018/01/09

A headache

A headache

Pros

I was able to have a seperate line for my business. It was great when it was free. Thats about the only thing positive I can say. I switched over from another service hoping to get the same type of service. Boy was I wrong.

Cons

Since they switched to paid there is NOTHING different about the app or service. It is NOT worth . In fact, I have had nothing but issues and customer service is almost impossible to reach. They terminated my account and I lost my number because of their own billing issue. It has been near impossible to reach ANYONE to correct. When I have all they want is my credit card number to bill me and offer no resolution and not even a sincere apology for the BS.

When I asked about my number then conveniently they were closed. Seriously, I have the screenshots to prove all this. Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to change my business number and go with a different service. I will not give these people another cent unless someone does something to actually help AND offers a sincere apology.

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Automotive
  • Company size: 201–500 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support

Love this

Reviewed on 2018/04/14

Pros

Some of the best features for outside sales people or a group. Love the text and call auto reply options. I subscribed to the additional voicemail to text feature as well

Cons

You have to be sure you set up your phone correctly to ensure your voicemails go to the correct place. Sort of confusing

Verified Reviewer
Overall rating
  • Industry: Financial Services
  • Company size: 1,001–5,000 Employees
  • Used Weekly for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

Great application to use for additional phone number!

Reviewed on 2018/11/02

This has been a great app for me overall as I have met some people online that I would rather not...

This has been a great app for me overall as I have met some people online that I would rather not keep in contact with. I can just ignore their calls and not have to worry about them harassing me all the time. I recommend it for users who need an additional line for any reason.

Pros

I started online dating about a year ago and found this to be great to create another phone number just for use when my date search. That way I did not have to worry about giving our my real phone number.

Cons

You must have a strong internet connection to properly answer calls. Otherwise, if you're traveling and going through low cellphone reception areas, you will not be able to take calls using this app.

Shannon
Overall rating
  • Industry: Real Estate
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 7.0 /10

Sideline

Reviewed on 2021/06/09

I like that I can add a business line to my phone and have a few members of my work also have it on...

I like that I can add a business line to my phone and have a few members of my work also have it on their phone, to monitor and make sure things are getting answered.

Pros

I like that when you receive a sideline phone call it pops up like a phone call but it indicates that it is from your sideline line. It helps add an extra line and you can be longed into this on multiple devices. Great for adding a business line.

Cons

It is harder to navigate. Finding where you are to send out a message if you want to text seems not as easy as it should be.

Response from Pinger

Hey Sharon,

We appreciate your feedback! If you have any questions about navigating the app or using any of the features, please contact us at [email protected].

Thanks again!